EFCC drops Diezani Alison-Madueke from Money Laundering Trial

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has applied to a court for the withdrawal of Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, as a defendant from a money-laundering trial.

Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), made the application before Justice Binta Nyako of the federal high court, Abuja according to a report filed by the Cable.

At the arraignment Jide Omokore — an associate of Diezani and chairman Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited and other accused persons — counsel to the defendants told the court that their clients would not take their plea because the prosecution had not shown any evidence of proof of service on Madueke and one Kolawole Akane, who were not in court.

The counsel added that the former minister and Akane were charged together with Omokore, the EFCC did not list them as defendants in the suit.

The judge while ruling on the submission held that the charge brought before the court was not ripe for plea.

Following her ruling, the EFCC counsel made an oral application to remove the names Madueke and Akane from the charge sheet.

Rotimi, thereafter, asked the court to allow the accused persons to take their plea, which they did.

Omokore is facing trial for alleged money laundering to the tune of N400m.